Fighting for Local Businesses by Executive Director Amanda Baillie

The Chamber Vista A monthly publication of the Sierra Vista Area Chamber March 2012

Volume 2012, Issue #3

In the past few months the

Chamber’s Legislative

Affairs Committee (LAC) has

been taking a close look at its

mission, as well as

considering how we can

become more effective as a

voice for business.

The Chamber strongly

believes that it should be an

advocate for its members at

the local, state and federal

levels.

We also acknowledge that

some of our members may

not agree that a Chamber of

Commerce should be politi-

cally active. But if we do not

voice an opinion on behalf of

the business community, then

who will?

Sometimes that means taking

a position on certain issues

and, on occasion, endorsing a

pro-business political

candidate.

Rest assured that these

decisions are not made by me

alone. All issues are brought

before LAC for discussion, as

well as the Board of

Directors, which has the final

say on how the Chamber

moves forward.

One of our goals is to try to

keep our members better

informed about what is hap-

pening in the political world,

particularly when it comes to

legislation that may affect

your businesses.

On our website

you will find a

LAC page,

which lists the

members of the

committee and

its plan of work.

It also has links

to election infor-

mation as well

as contact details for our

elected officials.

The LAC meets on the first

Tuesday of the month at the

Chamber and at its February

meeting it discussed, among

other items, two important

issues.

The first was the 2012

Statewide Legislative Agenda

for Arizona Businesses which

was put together by the

Arizona Chamber Executives,

an alliance of state Chambers

to which the Sierra Vista

Area Chamber belongs.

This agenda, which is avail-

able on our website on the

LAC page, covers a wide

range of subjects, from

business taxes and the State

budget to economic

development and health care.

It will be presented to our

State representatives during

the annual Chamber Day at

the Legislature on March 6.

The agenda has been

endorsed by both LAC and

the Board of Directors, and

so far has the support of 36

Arizona Chambers.

While we may not agree with

every position taken in the

document, we do believe it

presents a good legislative

agenda as a whole and when

individual issues listed in the

agenda come up, we can look

at them closely and decide if

we wish to endorse them.

The Chamber has also en-

dorsed Senate Bill 1338,

which would require any

retail company with a

physical presence in Arizona,

including warehouses,

distribution and fulfillment

centers, to collect sales taxes

on purchases made by state

residents.

The bill aims to endorse a

federal law which says states

may only collect sales tax

from companies

Continued on pg. 3

“We Mean Business”

An Update from

Executive Director

Amanda Baillie

2

Sierra Vista & Ft.

Huachuca: Our

Community Our

Future

2

Member Spotlight

on Candlewood

Suites

3

Chamber Calendar 4

SACA Vendor List 4

Chamber Events 5

New Board

Members

6

Member Page 7

Board of Directors/

Chamber Staff

8

In just a couple of weeks the

Chamber will be presenting

the 2012 Southeastern

Arizona Contractors Associa-

tion Home & Garden Show at

Buena High School.

It is not too late to get your

business signed up for this

event.

Unlike the Chamber’s Home

& Business Expo in Septem-

ber, this is a two-day show

which offers larger spaces for

vendors to exhibit their wares.

We are particularly

encouraging home

improvement businesses to

set up displays which really

showcase the type of work

that they do, whether that be

flooring, cabinets, hot tubs or

landscaping.

This is a great venue to show

the general public what you do

and why they should hire your

business.

Call us today about space

availability and rates.

As you are aware, the Chamber

recently held its 2012 Board of

Directors election and we were

happy to see so many of our

members voicing their opinions

by returning their ballots.

I would like to personally

congratulate the new incoming

board members, as well as our

two returning incumbents – you

can read the results elsewhere in

this publication.

More importantly, I would also

like to thank the three other

candidates – Mike Strange, Glen

Cobb and Julie Phipps – for

running in this election.

All of the nominees knew there

would be more candidates than

vacant seats on the board and I

applaud each and every one of

them for helping us give a voting

choice to the membership.

Our new board members will take

on their roles in April and I know

that they, along with our existing

directors, will do a fantastic job

representing the interests of our

members.

Chamber Update by Executive Director Amanda Baillie

“I would like to

personally

congratulate the

new incoming

board members”

Page 2 The Chamber Vista

Last month all Chamber members should

have received a letter regarding a new

campaign to help educate the community

about water use and savings.

The Chamber has joined forces with the City

of Sierra Vista, Huachuca 50 and Cochise

County to launch Sierra Vista & Fort

Huachuca – Our Community * Our Future, a

long-term education and outreach effort to

help reduce the amount of water used by area

residents and businesses.

This campaign is the result of discussions

that took place at a Chamber Legislative

Affairs Committee (LAC) meeting last

summer, following the invalidation of the

Biological Opinion that had been issued for

Fort Huachuca outlining how they must

protect the Water Umbel plant and the

critical habitat on the San Pedro River.

As a result of a lawsuit filed by the Center

for Biological Diversity, Fort Huachuca has

to again go through the process of a full

biological assessment to have a new

Biological Opinion issued by the U.S. Fish

and Wildlife Service.

Fort Huachuca cannot meet its

federal mandates regarding water

use – a critical component of its

biological assessment – alone, so

the LAC members decided that a

grassroots educational campaign

needed to take place to help the

community understand why this

issue is so important and how

they can help.

There are many misconceptions

regarding water use in our area,

so our goal is to present the hard and fast

facts, backed up by studies and data.

We also want to explain why every member

of this community, whether they have ties to

the Fort or not, could be affected in some

way if they do not do their part.

Fort Huachuca contributes $2.4 billion to our

economy every year and we ALL benefit

from that.

This campaign is long-term and right now we

are concentrating on educating people about

why we are doing this. Phase two, which will

kick in toward the summer, will focus on the

actions businesses and the general public can

take to save water in their place of work or at

home.

Our philosophy is that if we all pull together

as a community, we really can make a differ-

ence which helps keep Fort Huachuca, and

our quality of life, viable.

Please take the time to read the materials we

sent you and to pass it on to your employees,

colleagues, families and friends.

The information is also available on

www.SVFortOurCommunity.com

Sierra Vista & Fort Huachuca- Our Community Our Future: Water Campaign

Page 3

Member Spotlight by Executive Director Amanda Baillie

Fighting for Local Businesses (continued from page 1)

which have a presence in that state and has been triggered by

Amazon.com’s assertion that its Phoenix area distribution center

does not meet that requirement.

A recent article in the Sierra Vista Herald stated that although

Arizona’s retail sales in December were up on the previous

year, they were not as high as predicted.

One of the explanations offered, was that consumers turned to

online retailers rather than shop at main street businesses.

Local businesses, especially small, independent businesses

which make up a large part of our membership, are finding it

increasingly difficult to compete with online companies which

can offer free shipping and sometimes cheaper prices.

According to a study commissioned by the Arizona Retailers

Association, if the bill is signed into law, 24.3 percent of sales

on Amazon.com to Arizona residents would shift to local brick

and mortar stores.

That, says the study, would also translate to thousands of jobs

and increased revenue to the state.

While the Chamber is supportive of economic development and

attracting new companies to Arizona, we feel that all businesses

should pay their fair share of taxes and help support our state’s

infrastructure.

We also want our members to be able to compete fairly with

their online counterparts and we will continue to monitor the

progress of this bill.

Guests who stay at the Candlewood

Suites in Sierra Vista are assured a home

away from home, according to General

Manager Sedona Blinson.

With the majority of guests staying

between two weeks and six months, there

is plenty of time for them to get to know

the hotel staff.

“I think that has to be the most wonderful

thing about working here,” said Sedona.

“We get to know our guests and even

their families. Many come back to visit,

which is really fun. This really is a home

away from home for them.”

Candlewood Suites opened its doors on

South Highway 92 nearly five years ago

and has 71 rooms, all with full kitchens.

It typically attracts long-term guests,

many of them military, government

contractors and general contractors.

In addition to full kitchens, guests also

enjoy a gym, laundry, pool and spa,

a gazebo with a BBQ and a 24-hour

convenience store.

And although the hotel does not

have meeting room facilities, its

sister hotel next door, the Holiday

Inn Express, does.

Sedona, who took over the GM’s

job in May last year, believes her

friendly staff and high cleanliness

standards make Candlewood Suites

a top choice for people visiting

Sierra Vista.

“We also take pride in knowing what our

guests need and want,” she said.

Since taking on her managerial position,

Sedona has utilized her Chamber

membership to network with other com-

munity leaders.

“When I first started here I did not know

a lot of people,” said Sedona, who is

originally from Phoenix. “Attending

Chamber events has helped me to learn

about the community on a different level.

It’s the business people who really know

this community.”

The Candlewood Suites can be contacted

at 520-439-8200. Chamber members

receive a special rate of $89.

ENTER TO WIN A FREE

FLYER PLACEMENT IN THE

CHAMBER VISTA

TEXT VISTA101 TO 72727

&

DON’T FORGET TO

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CHAMBER APP TODAY!

Schedule of Events

March 7th - Military Affairs Luncheon,

TMAC, 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

March 8th - Business at Twilight, Aristo-

care 500 E. Fry Blvd, Suite M-4 (2nd

floor atrium), 5: 00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.

March 13th - Legislative Affairs Com-

mittee Meeting, Chamber, 8:00 a.m.

March 14th - Ambassador’s Meeting,

Manda Le, 5:30 p.m.

March 14th - Leadership, Border Day

March 23 - 24 - Southeastern Arizona

Contractor’s Association Home Show

March 26th - Flyer inserts are due for

April’s Chamber Vista

Page 4 The Chamber Vista

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1 2 3

4 5 6 7

MAC

8

BAT

9 10

11 12 13

LAC

14 Ambassa-

dor/Leadership

15 16 17

18 19 20 21 22 23

SACA

24

SACA

25 26

FLYERS

27 28 29 30 31

March 2012

Arizona Pest Control

Berg’s Heating & Cooling

BrightStar

Budget Blinds

Cable Alternatives

Cannon’s Creative Surfaces, Inc

Cherry Creek Radio

City of Sierra Vista– Department of

Community

Clark Information Systems

Cochise County Democratic

Committee

Curves of Sierra Vista

Cutco Cutlery

Elect John George for City Council

G.R.A.S.P. Heating & Cooling

Grasshopper Landscaping

Habitat for Humanity

Home Depot

Jeff Flake for U.S. Senate

KANMAR

Lowes

M & J Kettle Corn

MIA’s Mexican Grille

Mountain View A/C

Mountain View Gardens

My Big Fat Greek Restaurant

Nationwide Vision

Net Zero Solar

Nova Home Loans

R & R Express LLC

R.L. Workman Homes

RSC Equipment Rental

Sherwin Williams

Sierra Remodeling & Home Builders

Sierra Vista Carpet Cleaning

Sierra Vista Herald & Bisbee Daily

Review

Sierra Vista Tile, Inc

Slide-Lok of Sierra Vista, LLC

Southwest Gas Corporation

Southwest Home and Hearth

SSVEC/Transworld Network, Corp.

Truly Nolen Pest & Termite Control

United Country Real Estate

Waddell & Reed Financial Advisors,

David Burnett

Windemere Hotel and Conference

Center

To Register: www.sierravistachamber.org

2012 SACA Home & Garden Current Vendor List

SCAN TO VIEW OUR GOOGLE CALENDAR

MIA’s One Year Anniversary

MIA’s serves

delicious food

using only the

freshest ingredi-

ents in their sim-

plistic authentic

Mexican recipes.

Always keeping

in mind the

family tradition on which MIA’s was founded.

For more information call (520) 458-6427 or stop by

2097 E. Fry Boulevard

Page 5

2012 Health Fair The Mall at Sierra Vista hosted the 2012 Health

Fair presented by the Chamber. Over 40 vendors

where on hand providing valuable health

information to the public. Demonstrations ranging

from Tai Chi to a sample workout by Team

Beachbody were presented to those in attendance.

Pictured right are attendees taking advantage

of the many various health industry vendors.

Leadership’s Ft. Huachuca Day

Did you know that you can place your

business card size ad in the Vista for

only $50 per issue or your logo

for $25!!!

Sign up for 12 issues and save

$100 on a business card ad and $50 on a

logo placement.

Team Beachbody‘s Ribbon Cutting

Doug and Lisa are

Team Beachbody

Coaches and lov-

ing it! They serve

the Douglas, Ben-

son, Vail, Sierra

Vista, and Bisbee

areas. Their spe-

cialty is helping people get fit and healthy, lose weight,

and live happy lives. For more information call

(520) 456-4580

Page 6 The Chamber Vista

Thank you to all of our members who took the time to vote in the

recent Board of Directors election.

A total of 188 ballots were returned, which is nearly a third of the

current 608 members.

Congratulations to incumbents Pam Anderson of The Landmark

Café, and Michael Benson of TDY Housing, and new incoming

board members Elsie MacMillan of Sierra Toyota, Ken Cecil of

The Mall at Sierra Vista, Randy Sueskind of Cherry Creek Radio,

and Phil Vega of the Sierra Vista Herald.

The new Board of Directors will be installed at the Chamber’s

Annual Installation and Awards Banquet at the Windemere Hotel

& Conference center on Thursday, April 19.

This event will also include the presentation of our Business of

the Year Awards, so please mark that evening in your calendars.

All board members will be attending an orientation and retreat at

the Chamber, on April 28, facilitated by Steve Snyder, a 35-year

Chamber veteran and Vice President of the Western Association

of Chamber Executives.

The Chamber would also like to sincerely thank Mike Strange of

Summit Fitness, Glen Cobb of Sierra Suites, and Julie Phipps of

Southwest Gas, for running as candidates and allowing our mem-

bers to have a real choice when it came to placing their votes.

New Incoming Board Members

Pamela Anderson Michael Benson

Landmark Cafe TDY Housing

Ken Cecil Elsie MacMillan

Mall at Sierra Vista Sierra Toyota

Randy Sueskind Phil Vega

Cherry Creek Radio Sierra Vista Herald

Business At Twilight

Thursday, March 8

500 E. Fry Blvd, Suite M-4 (2nd floor atrium)

Hosted by

AristoCare

Assorted finger foods and deserts

Flavored coffees & Wine

50/50, Raffle prizes donated by Stuff N Baskets, Holiday Inn Ex-

press , Candlewood Suites and more

Don’t forget your business cards!

Installation and Awards Dinner

Join us as we install our new Board of Directors and

present the Large, Small and Home Based Business of

the Year Awards.

Sponsored by:

Windemere Hotel & Conference Center April 19th

5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. Cocktail Hour (cash bar)

6:30 p.m. - 7:15 p.m. Dinner

7:15 p.m. - 8:15 p.m. Installation and Awards

Ceremony

To RSVP go to www.sierravistachamber.org

Page 7

Thank you to these members for renewing their commitment to the business community:

A Special Welcome to our New Members!

A-1 Custom Muffler -

(520) 803-0926

Black Rose Etching -

(520) 456-1526

CEMEX - (520) 378-2321

Cochise County Council for

CASA, Inc - (520) 732-7139

Cochise Land Office -

(520) 457-1444

Cochise Water Project -

(520) 559-5555

Executive Auto Detailing and

Car Wash - (520) 335-8812

G.R.A.S.P. Heating & Cool-

ing - (520) 364-7870

Grasshopper Landscaping and

Maintenance, LLC -

(520)-720-5022

Gwen Calhoun 4 City Council

- (520) 458-5280

KE & G Construction -

(520) 458-9594

Netmedix IT Solutions -

(520) 261-5911

Oils for Eternity -

(520) 234-0566

Organo Gold -

(520) 280-2035

Walston Homes, LLC -

(520) 803-9011

Air Evac Services, Inc.

Amerind Museum

Bakers Flor, The

Bedmart

Berean Preschool

Butterfly Gardens, Inc.

Cenpatico Behavioral Health of

Arizona

Century Link Communications

Copper State Communications

Dental Village

Desert Eagle Security

Dockter, Carol

Eco Water

Edward Jones Investments, Jeff

Lane

Great Clips

Huachuca Mountain Insurance

Agency

Landmark Cafe, The

McDonalds Hwy 92

New Jerusalem Community

Church

Olive Garden

Peacock Restaurant

Petit's Auto Care

Prestige Assisted Living

Rocky Mountain Images

Sierra Hearing Center, LLC

Sierra Vista Builders Supply

Sierra Vista Insurance Agency

Sierra Vista United Methodist

Church

Southern Arizona Investors

Southern Arizona Media

Productions

TonerWest

Turquoise Valley Golf

Course & RV

UPS Store

Village Meadows Baptist

Church

Village Profile.com

Visiting Angels

Executive Club Members

American Family Insurance

Arizona Water Company

Best Buy

Booz Allen Hamilton

BrightStar

CACI, Inc.

Campstone Transfer, Inc.

Castle & Cooke, Inc.

Castle & Cooke Mortgage, LLC

CGI

Cherry Creek Radio

City of Sierra Vista

Coca-Cola Refreshments USA, Inc.

Cox

Data Systems & Technology, Inc.

Dental Village

Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriot

Farmers Insurance - Ginny Francis

Garden Terrace Assisted Living Home

General Dynamics Information

Technology

Horizon Moving Systems of Sierra

Vista, Inc.

Huachuca Mountain Insurance Agency

KKYZ Radio

Landmark Café

Lawley Automotive Center

Lawley’s Team Ford

Life Care Center

Long Realty Co.

Longhorn Restaurant

Mall at Sierra Vista

ManTech Telecommunications & Info

Systems

Mission Essential Personnel (MEP),

LLC

Mobile Marketing Blueprint

Nathan Williams, Law Office

National Bank of Arizona

New Frontier Animal Medical Center

Northrop Grumman Corporation

Patio Pools & Spas

Pioneer Title Agency

Pueblo del Sol Country Club

Restless Wings Photography

Rosemont Copper Company

Salient Federal Solutions

Sentrillion

Sierra Vista Ace Hardware

Sierra Vista Herald Bisbee Daily Review

Sierra Vista Regional Health Center

SMPLFY IT

Southeastern Arizona Contractors

Association

Southern Arizona Media Productions

Southwest Gas Corporation

Southwestern Eye Center

Stachel & Associates, P.C.

STG Inc.

Stilwell’s Learning Center, LLC

Suburban Extended Stay Hotels

Sulpher Springs Valley Electric Coop.

Sun Canyon Inn

TDY Housing, LLC

TMS - Ty Media Services

TownePlace Suites by Marriott

University of Phoenix -Sierra Vista

Campus

Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.

Wayland Baptist University

Wells Fargo Home Mortgage

Windemere Hotel & Conference Center

21 E. Wilcox Dr.

Sierra Vista, AZ. 85635

The Chamber Vista is a publication of the Sierra Vista Area Chamber 21 E. Wilcox Drive, Sierra Vista, AZ 85635 (520) 458-6940, Fax: (520) 452-0878

www.sierravistachamber.org Mission Statement The Sierra Vista Area Chamber promotes business and provides leadership for the improvement of the community. 2011-12 Board of Directors Executive Officers Chairman - Frank Gonzalez, Lawley Automotive Past Chairman - Tim Cervantes, Cerendipi Tees Chair Elect - Dee Dee Hoeft, Wells Fargo Home Mortgage Treasurer - Michael Benson, TDY Housing Secretary - Jean Giuffrida, Long Realty Board Members Pamela Anderson - Landmark Café Jack Blair - Sulphur Springs Valley Electric Cooperative Anita Farrow - National Bank of Arizona Wallace Ricks - ManTech Telecommunications & Info Systems Rick Shelley - Horizon Moving Systems Bradley Snyder - Sierra Vista Realty Joe Stroud - Edwards Financial, Inc. Susan Tawney - Pioneer Title Agency Nancy Nash - Stuff ‘N Baskets Nathan Williams - Nathan Williams, Law Office

Sierra Vista Area Chamber PRESORTED

STANDARD

US POSTAGE PAID

HEREFORD, AZ

PERMIT NO. 29

CURRENT RESIDENT OR

Chamber Staff Executive Director - Amanda Baillie, abaillie@sierravistachamber.org Membership & Marketing Director- John Hargraves III, jhagraves@sierravistachamber.org Communications Director - David Elkins, delkins@sierravistachamber.org Office Manager - Leah Hastings, officem@sierravistachamber.org Events Coordinator - Diane Erwin, derwin@sierravistachamber.org Administrative Assistant - Leah Barnes, info@sierravistachamber.org